WHY STANDARD ENGLISH?

What is Standard English?

Standard English is accepted as the "correct" form of English, used in formal speaking or writing. In primary school children are expected to learn to write according to the rules of Standard English.

                           

    

                            

Standard English is the variety of English which is used, with minor regional and national variations, as a world language. 

The aim of the national curriculum is that everyone should be able to use Standard English as needed in writing and in relatively formal speaking.

Standard English may also be referred to as 'correct' English. It follows grammatical rules like subject-verb agreement and the correct use of verb tenses or pronouns, for example:

Are children tested on their understanding of Standard English?

When Year 6 children sit their Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test, they may be asked to choose the correct word to put in a sentence so that it is written in Standard English, for example:

They might also be asked to rewrite sentences using more formal language.

Teachers will encourage the use of Standard English throughout a child's time at primary school by reading information and fiction books out loud, modelling writing on the board, speaking in Standard English and highlighting any uses of non-Standard English in their marking of each child's writing.